Box Score

ABERDEEN, S.D.: Junior Tory Brouwer had a match-high 12 kills to lead No. 8 Southwest Minnesota State to a 3-1 (25-22, 25-19, 23-25, 25-21) victory over Northern State in a conference match Friday night in Aberdeen, S.D.

SMSU improves to 14-2 (3-1, NSIC); Northern State drops to 9-5 (1-4, NSIC).

Brouwer was one of five Mustang spikers to finish the match in double digit kills.  Laura Hegerle, Kasey Loeslie and Maggie Geske all had 11 kills.  Devin Diedrich rounded out the fivesome by terminating 10 balls.

Geske's 11 kills was accompanied by a match-high 27 digs to give the freshman a double-double.

Sara Quiram and Lauren Swain both dug up 22 balls to help the SMSU defensive effort.

Northern State held tough for much of the first set, but the Mustangs finally moved towards a sustained lead off a free-ball kill from Loeslie to make the set 21-20.  A Hegerle service ace and long serve from the Wolves was enough to keep the lead and seal the set for SMSU.

The Wolves started the second set on a 4-0 run that was eventually broken into by a Loeslie kill.  SMSU closed the gap quickly, and the two teams exchanged leads until late in the set when the Mustangs were able to put together a run and grab a decisive six point lead.

NSU built a lead of five that lasted much of the third set; however, a late Mustang hitting surge was enough to tie the set.  With an opportunity to take the lead, the Mustangs put a serve in the net, giving the Wolves the go-ahead point.  NSU used the sideout to take the lead for good.

Blocking late in the fourth and final set gave the Mustangs an edge that led them to the set victory.  SMSU's hitting in its final six points kept the Wolves out of system and allowed the Mustangs to build a match-deciding lead.

Poor serving plagued the Mustangs all night.  SMSU committed a season-high 13 service errors.

The Mustangs are on the road again tomorrow as they head to Bismarck, N.D., to take on the University of Mary at 3 p.m. in a conference match.